Sacramento City Council to vote on arena lawyers

Opponents argue city could be wasting money

The Sacramento City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposal to hire two law firms to manage the issuance of parking revenue bonds that would make up most of the city's contribution for the construction of a new downtown arena.

The city attorney recommended hiring the two firms months before the bonds are issued because he described the process as "unusually complex."

"I'm definitely looking forward to a new arena here in the downtown area," said Sacramento resident Dwight Paschal.

The city attorney is requesting authorization to hire Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Stradling Yocca Carlson and Rauth on the city's behalf.The city is considering using more than $200 million in parking revenue to subsidize the $445 million construction of a new arena at the site of Downtown Plaza.

The subsidy was part of a deal to entice a new ownership group to purchase the NBA Kings franchise and keep the basketball team from leaving the area.

Members of the group Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork said the city could end up wasting the money used to hire the firms if they are successful at putting the arena before voters next June, and voters reject the arena proposal.

"They need to wait and let the people vote on this. The people want to vote. We have another three months, four months to gather the signatures," said Jim Cathcart.

A memo from the city attorney said the fees to pay the law firms would come out of the bond sale if the sale is successful. If the bond sale doesn't proceed, for whatever reason, the city would be limited to $750,000 in legal fees for both firms, according to a city memo.